Woman terrorized South Miami family with series of ‘swatting’ calls, police say

SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. – A woman is facing 67 criminal charges after police accused her of making “numerous” false calls claiming murder and mayhem at a South Miami family’s home, prompting “high-risk” police responses in what authorities described as cases of “swatting.”

The victims told police that they had no idea why Debrina Council was targeting them, an arrest report states. Authorities arrested the 41-year-old at her home in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood on Tuesday.

South Miami police said Council called 911 on “numerous occasions and times” reporting “shootings, people being killed and reports of dead bodies” at the victims’ home in the 5900 block of Southwest 62nd Avenue, prompting large police responses.

Officers, after responding, determined that the calls were false, police said.

“The victims complained to this detective of the (e)ffects to (their) emotional well-being due to the multiple calls and officers showing up to the residence at all times of the day,” police wrote in Council’s arrest report. “This breach of peace was causing stress to the entire family.”

Investigators, after tracing the calls back to Council, arrested her on 22 counts each of false report of a capital felony, a third-degree felony, and disorderly conduct and misuse of 911, both misdemeanors.

They also arrested her on a cocaine possession charge and took her to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she remained held as of Wednesday.

Council’s bond was listed in online court records as more than $69,000, as of Wednesday afternoon.